Unstandard: One of the things that has lead to the decline of Jazz as popular art form, is a monster that we ourselves as Jazz musicians have perpetuated. The concept of the Jazz Standard Repertoire has marginalized our our connection with our listeners. I noticed countless while hustling for gigs. I would walk into a restaurant and ask, “How would you like to have Live Jazz?” which ultimately is asking them,  “How would you like to have live 1920′s, 30′s, and 40′s pop music in your restaurant?” This didn’t seem right, so we started to deconstruct and rearrange popular music that everyone knew in various jazz styles. Doing this, we were able to hold onto these gigs for exponentially longer. Unstandard is seeking to break down the limitations that we have put up for ourselves and in terms of our repertoire to carry Jazz and new listeners love for the style of music into a new era.

As an active saxophonist and composer/arranger primarily in West Michigan, Rich has performed all over the United States as well as in Europe where he performed at the Vienne, Montreux, and North Sea Jazz Festivals. He has accompanied and recorded with such artists as Richard Davis, Jack Wilkins, Steve Davis, Jim McNeely, “Blue” Lou Marini, Chris Vidala, Larue Nickelson, Michael Ross, Wycliff Gordon, and John Fedchock. Rich also directs and performs regularly with his own groups, The Mars Trio, Van Voorst Jazz Quartet, and The Forefront.

As a composer, Rich studied under world renowned jazz composer, Chuck Owen, at the University of South Florida and has experience writing for big bands, various jazz combos, orchestras, choirs, worship music, as well as other chamber groups. From 2004-2008, Rich was a teaching assistant, instructor, and adjunct professor at USF while completing a Masters of Music in Jazz Composition and Jazz Performance. He received his B.M. from Hope College in Holland Michigan where he was awarded the Distinguished Artist Scholarship. In 2006, he was selected by the Center for Jazz Composition at the University of South Florida to arrange a piece for Karrin Allison for the Jazz Masterworks Series.

He is currently Director of Worship Arts and Discipleship at Church of the Living Christ in Fremont, MI and a doctoral candidate at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, FL, where he is pursuing a Doctor of Worship Studies. Rich served as composer in residence at Tampa Covenant Church from 2007 – 2011 where he was commissioned to compose the Ancient-Future Worship series, a collection of arrangements and original compositions that embrace the Ancient-Future worship model. He served as an adjunct professor at Trinity College of Florida, where he taught Practical Worship Studies, and saxophone performance. In his spare time, Rich enjoys gourmet cooking, good conversation over a fresh cup of coffee and spending time with his wife Bonnie and two sons.

© Britney Fullgraf | www.belvederestudio.com | Lakeland, FL